Doctor's Corner

For optimal health, the body needs a daily intake of an array of vitamins and minerals. Many people are taking vitamin supplements as a way of boosting this intake, however the majority of vitamin supplements available are synthetic compounds. Synthetic vitamins do not confer the benefits that a diet rich in whole foods, or natural whole food supplements does. For example vitamin C found in whole foods contains rutin, bioflavonoids, ascorbic acid, factors K, J and P, tyrosinase and ascorbinogen.

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant with thick, fleshy, spiky green leaves. Two different products are derived from the plant, a gel, and a juice or sap, and each of these is widely promoted for conferring various health benefits. The centre of the plant leaf contains a mucilaginous tissue called the aloe vera gel, while an intensely bitter, yellow latex, referred to as the juice, is produced by the peripheral bundle sheath cells.

Stress has become one of the leading health problems in Western society. While most stress these days is from psychological stressors, any stressor, whether chemical, physical or psychological in origin, will provoke a physiological response in the body.

Vitamin D plays an important role in the formation and maintenance of healthy bones and teeth. Vitamin D enhances calcium absorption in the intestines and maintains calcium and phosphorus levels within narrow limits. Vitamin D is also critical for proper bone mineralization. Secondary roles of vitamin D include regulation of the immune system, reducing the effects of inflammation and regulation of cell growth, cell differentiation and cell death.

Vitamin supplement sales are a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States alone. Just walk into your local health food store and you will find rows and rows of vitamins for sale; vitamins A, B, C, D, E, heck, there’s even a vitamin F (essential fatty acids). This industry is so lucrative because most Americans are deficient in at least one vitamin due to poor food choices. One can only assume that the 35% of American, who report regular supplementation with vitamins, must belief that these vitamins will fix the void in their diet.